India’s Nirbhay Cruise Missile To Have Turbo Fan Engine

India’s long range sub sonic cruise missile, Nirbhay I will have a new small Turbo-Fan engine manufactured by the Gar Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).

“GTRE is presently ground testing an engine for the cruise missile and has not yet come up with its nomenclature. The specifications of the engine are yet to be released. GTRE is based in Bangalore and had earlier built Kaveri I engine that was to be fitted on Indian Air Force’s Tejas light combat aircraft. The Kaveri program was closed as it proved to be underpowered,” DRDO sources told our correspondent.

Nirbhay I can be adapted for naval release by both a surface ship and submarines. It has a range of 1500 kms, weighs 1000 kgs, and its current engine is ramjet technology. It was tested successfully with all parametres matching the standards set by the DRDO in October, 2014.

Four versions of Nirbhay land,ship,air and submarine would be developed and the first land attack cruise missile would be delivered in less than three years,” Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and DRDO director General Avinash Chanderhad earlier said after the successful test fire last year.